Mornings in the barracks were always the same. Calder was awoken by the clattering of his roommate – Rill, a stout man who had been stationed in Evermine much longer than Calder – trying but failing to open his clothes chest with grace. He didn’t mind, though. Most knights were happy to get up before Captain Faramond marched through the halls to wake everyone up his way.
After throwing on his tan linen undershirt, a pair of white hose, and a ragged breechcloth, he stumbled his way to the kitchen. The uncommon yet welcome aroma of sizzling butter convinced his feet to follow orders. It was Notch’s week to cook, and while Calder usually found himself unamused by his antics, he couldn’t deny the man had a knack for food.
The majority of the rooms he passed were empty. Evermine’s barracks was a long building meant to house up to sixty knights if necessary. It was the largest building in town and had so far lucked out with its location. While regular homes needed constant relocation due to flooding, the barracks had been built up on a hill near the center of town.
But Evermine was the smallest town in the Kingdom of Kradall. Perhaps in another time it may have needed more knights, but in the current day no more than twenty were stationed there. Now they were left with a massive wooden building, essentially two hallways – one for the men and one for the women – with the captain’s office, a storeroom, a kitchen, and a dining room. Altogether, over half of the building remained unused.
None of this made the knights any more likable in the eyes of the townspeople who already struggled for a dry place to sleep.
Calder tried not to think about the blatant distrust developing between the king and his subjects. It was too big of a problem for him to fix in his first year as a fully-fledged knight. Instead, he took a seat at the dining table and poured himself a cup of water from the carved beech pitcher in an attempt to wake up.
Across the table, Mohs was tying her hair back in braids. “Could you hurry it up, Notch? I have to do perimeter check and would like to finish before dusk.”
“Relax, gorgeous, I’m almost done.” From the kitchen – which was really just half of the dining room – Notch was in front of the iron stove, his arms in constant movement as he finished their meals.
“Don’t know why you bother doing the full perimeter,” Rill said. He was sitting next to her, gnawing on a piece of salted meat. “Nobody would bother using this dump as an attack point. Hell, the whole town could disappear and the capital would only notice when the taxes stop coming in.”
Mohs peered down the hallway. “Don’t let Captain hear you saying that. Besides, it’s not only for expecting a raid. What if there are smugglers?”
Both of the men she was talking to laughed.
“And what would they smuggle?” Notch said as he peeled leaves off a head of lettuce. “We have nothing here to sell, and certainly nobody here could afford a smuggler’s prices. The mines are empty, the crops are mush. You’re all lucky I offer to cook as much as I do.”
“Yeah,” Rill said. “And the women aren’t much better either.”
Mohs tossed her empty cup at his head, resulting in a soft thump and a chorus of laughter from the whole room as he rubbed the spot it hit.
Calder had managed to almost fall asleep through all the racket when a plate of food was slid in front of his spot at the table. His mouth watered at the smell alone. He lifted and inspected his breakfast: lettuce wraps filled with fresh rice. Inside he could see little bits of salted meat torn apart and mixed in.
All around the table Notch passed out plates, even to some of the empty chairs where a few people hadn’t woken up yet. “I have one more thing, too.”
It was too late for Calder, who already had one of the rolls in his mouth, to stop. When he bit in, he discovered the dried meat must have been duck or pheasant. Maybe I should be nicer to Notch.
“I said I have something else!” Notch returned with a steaming pot and lifted out the addition nobody waited for. It was an egg. Short, round, with a speckled beige shell. He set one down by each knight as they all stared at him in awe.
“How did you afford so many of these?” Mohs asked, her stern tone no longer present.
He didn’t respond with words. In fact, all he did was grin and shrug as he placed the last egg next to Calder. “Everyone enjoy! Oh, and if you happen to get assigned a night shift, please consider switching with me!”
The table mumbled agreement and confusion at why anyone would want a night shift, but were content with their meal and the chance to switch to an easier job in the future. Calder, though, ignored most of their words and cracked open his egg. It was boiled perfectly, with a firm white and rich, gooey center of molten gold yolk. The only reason he didn’t inhale it in one gulp was because he was still chewing on one of his rolls.
And they called the food “mush.” Sure, it’s not what they fed us at the capital, but it gets the job done. Calder leaned back in his chair as he finished swallowing his final bites of rice and egg. The new, swampy environment Evermine found itself in hindered the usual crops they traditionally grew, that much was true. However, the farmers discovered that it was much better suited to growing rice. He thought it was impressive how they had all adapted to the impossible situation.
He was unable to enjoy the post-meal peace for long, as the sharp sound of the captain’s horn blasted through the barracks. It started in the back of the males’ hall, a weak tune that was nobody’s favorite song being forced through a tarnished metal trumpet. The sound grew louder, and the pleas of those who were just woken up followed it until the door to the dining room opened to reveal Captain Faramond.
The trumpeting thankfully stopped as he entered. He set his instrument to his side and smiled to the room as he usually did.
“Good morning, crew. Food smells great today.” His voice carried through the room almost louder than his trumpet, lighting smiles on everyone’s face.
Faramond was the one thing none of the knights ever complained about. He was perhaps the youngest captain in the kingdom, no older than thirty, with a perfect record when he trained in the capital. The only reason he was stationed in an outskirt town like Evermine was because no other cities needed a captain and the royal guard wanted him to get experience for a few years before leading the knights of a more important city.
During his own training, Calder copied much of what he saw Faramond do. From the way he used his sword with an off-balance grip that allowed for more power at close range, to slicking his hair back the same way when on duty. Though Faramond’s hair was dark, with a sharp widow’s peak. He was the entire reason Calder opted to be stationed in Evermine in the first place.
The knights who didn’t currently have their faces full of food wished their captain a good morning in return, and those that did tried their best to speak anyway. He sat down at the head of the table after filling his cup.
“I hope you enjoy it, captain,” said Notch as he took the seat nearest Faramond. “I bought the eggs yesterday as a special treat for everyone.” His gaze didn’t leave the captain the entire time he spoke.
“Oh, how thoughtful.” Faramond cracked open his egg and bit straight through to the yolk. “What would we do without you, Notch?”
Calder and Mohs exchanged a knowing glance that, despite the delicious food he made, a world without Notch didn’t sound all that bad to them. It was obvious to anyone who knew him that his generous meal was an attempt to get in the captain’s good graces, likely with an end goal of being relocated alongside him when the time came.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Hey,” Rill called out. “Why don’t my rolls have little bits of meat in ‘em?” He held up his lettuce wrapped rice for all to see, and sure enough it was just plain rice.
Notch chuckled to himself. “Because you snuck your share of the meat while I was cooking. You didn’t even try to hide it.”
Chatter in the dining room spread as more knights crawled out of their rooms and joined the table to eat and prepare for the day. Soon everyone was out other than the few assigned a night shift. Being the newest knight to join the ranks, Calder found it difficult to jump into any of the conversations. He had gotten on good terms with Mohs in so far as they made fun of the other knights together, and his roommate Rill was good company while they were both drinking, but progress beyond that had stagnated. While they all talked and laughed, he sipped at his water, resigned to his fate.
“Calder, how are things going with the wizard?” Faramond asked. Those between them quieted their voices and waited for Calder’s response.
He was unsure how to answer. I told Laz I wouldn’t tell anyone about the gems, I guess that includes the captain. But he’ll have to know at some point, won’t he? “Er, it’s alright. Fine, really. There haven’t been any more explosions, right?”
Those who were listening laughed. A new wave of murmuring went through the table, all gossip about the mysterious wizard they rarely saw outside of the market. Whispers of Laz being insane or dangerous caught his ear, but most referred to him in jest, more of a town fool than a wizard. Calder held himself back from speaking out against them in fear he would expose something.
“That’s good,” Faramond continued. “Sorry you got stuck with the job, it can’t be all too interesting. But you’ve put in enough time so let me know whenever you want to switch. I can get someone else to–”
“It’s fine, really.” Calder sat up straighter in his chair. “I don’t mind it. In fact, I think he might be done with his research soon, so the whole thing won’t be necessary for much longer.”
“Ah, well you’ve done a great job.” Faramond stood up and brushed a grain of rice off his shirt. “Now you’ll have to pardon me, everyone. I’m off to relieve the night crew of their duties.”
The captain left, and most of the table headed back to their rooms to put on their armor. Calder stayed put, basking in the glow of being singled out and complimented by his hero. I bet Laz wouldn’t hate knights so much if he got to know more of them. Surely he would love Faramond, and I could see him getting along well with Mohs if they found something to complain about together.
He thought back to his day with the pretty wizard the day before. The neutral reaction he had when asked on a date. It had taken Calder from the first day he met Laz until that moment to work up enough courage to ask him out. A man courting another man wasn’t unheard of in Kradall, but Calder knew it was frowned upon in some towns. None of the other couples in Evermine were gay as far as he could tell, and it felt like a big risk.
As he reminisced, Rill started collecting the used plates as some repentance for his earlier kitchen crime. The clatter shook Calder from his daydream. He looked around at the other knights and wondered if they would view him any differently should he and Laz start a relationship – though he supposed he was getting ahead of himself.
An unwelcome memory from his childhood cropped up from the trenches of his mind. The voice of his mother reassuring him that he would be loved no matter what, his father affirming everything she said. They were the reason he felt no shame about who he was, or who he wanted to be with.
He began to feel uneasy.
Now isn’t the time to think about any of this. I have a job to do.
When Rill passed by, Calder handed him his plate and stood up. The moment he did, all the knights paused at a sound in the distance.
Someone in town was shouting – yelling, really, at the top of their lungs – and it was getting closer.
***
Laz pushed past a knight on her way out of the barracks, paying her no mind as he let his rage guide him. When I see him, he’s dead. This is what trusting a knight gets you!
“Calder!” He swung open the door and stomped into the dining hall. “Where are you, you liar!”
He looked around and saw five knights staring at him. His target, the red-haired knight, was standing by the table. Laz huffed and made his way toward him.
“And you didn’t even have the good sense to leave town, eh? Who do you think you are, stealing from me and acting like nothing happened. You really are just the king’s dog, you steal from the town you live in and act like it’s a service to us!” He reached Calder, who hadn’t moved since he entered, and gave him a shove that sent him nowhere. But it felt like the right thing to do.
The room went silent, save for one of the knights laughing by himself. Laz began to sweat. What if they’re all in on it? Maybe they put him up to it and–
“What?” Calder asked. “Wait, someone stole from you? Are you sure?” His startled expression disappeared and he grabbed Laz’s arm to pull him into the cramped pantry away from the others. “Was it the gems? Are they gone now?”
Laz’s anger started to fold in on itself. His breathing was still heavy but he was no longer sure who to lash out at. “You mean it wasn’t you? Did you tell anyone?”
“Of course it wasn’t me,” Calder said as if it was the dumbest thing someone had asked him that day. “And I am capable of keeping a secret. Do you truly think that little of me?”
“Well, I just–” Laz’s entire plan was veering off course. He had gone in expecting to have Calder arrested by the other knights and to have his belongings swiftly found. “Then where did the gems go? And my focus?”
Calder looked worried and put his hands on the back of his head, knocking over a closed bag of salt as he did. “If you really had a break-in then we need to act fast.”
The knight opened the door to the pantry again and stepped into the dining room, where the others hadn’t moved an inch. Their stares continued to burn into Laz as he realized how much of a scene he had created.
One of them – a skinny one with big ears, the one who laughed earlier – grinned. “Is this why you didn’t want to give up your shift? Having a fling with the wizard, huh?”
“Looks like they’re in the middle of a lover’s quarrel,” said another with blonde braids and a strong forehead. “What, did you cheat on him, Calder? Leave him all ready and waiting for you?”
Laz looked down and regretted not taking the time to put on real clothes. He had run through the entire town in a sleeping tunic. Not wanting to draw any further attention to himself, he sidestepped behind Calder’s large frame.
The big-eared one spoke again. “And that explains why you never want to be my wingman at the tavern. You probably wanted me single and desperate for you!”
“Nobody, man or woman, wants you that badly, Notch. I promise.” It was the blonde one again.
Calder had a slight blush appear on his face, but his concern didn’t waver. “Listen, everyone! Find the captain and let him know there’s a thief on the loose.” He gave out orders like it was second nature. “Rill, keep an eye out for anyone leaving town with gems, look out for a large purple one.”
Confidence. Once again, Calder was radiating it. Laz couldn’t help but admire how quickly he put together a plan to try and help him. He almost felt bad for accusing him before hearing his side. No, it was right to accuse him. And he might still be the culprit! Maybe this is an act so he can flee town easier! Still, as much as he tried to convince himself that Calder was in the wrong, it didn’t stick. It’s because he isn’t in his stupid armor, my mind isn’t seeing him as the dumb knight he really is. And with his hair normal and not slicked back, he seems more…
He stopped his thoughts, afraid he was about to think something positive about him.
“Alright, I can do that,” said the one Laz presumed was Rill.
“Yeah, I’ll tell the captain when I head out,” said the blonde one.
Laz began to feel better about the situation. If Calder didn’t steal them, and all the knights are searching for the culprit, then maybe everything will work out. He stepped out from behind Calder and tried to catch his breath, which had been a haphazard wheeze since waking from his nightmare.
“We’ll find your things,” Calder said, resting his hand on top of Laz’s. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure of it.”
Before Laz could shake his hand free, the annoying knight with the large ears smirked. “If it means so much to your boyfriend, then I’ll help look too.”
The room laughed again, and Laz felt the anger creep back in. He yanked his hand away and held his palm up toward Calder. His thoughts were a jumbled mess. The missing gems, the focus he swore to protect, the laughter at all the embarrassing things Calder did. He needed all the feelings to go away. With a frustrated cry, he willed out his emotions in a single burst, knocking the embarrassing knight off balance and onto his backside.
Calder yelled out in surprise and perhaps pain, while the others backed up with frightened gasps. Dammit, they’re all so annoying! Do they have any idea how serious this situation is? Laz darted out of the barracks, ignoring Calder’s calls for him to come back.